Page 79 - Alan Blakeman Collection catalogue
P. 79

 184. DOULTON VOS WHISKY DISPENSER. Approx. 20 ins tall. A most sensational and unique Doulton stoneware artware back bar whisky dispenser. The predominently
dark blue glazed curvacious bodied form carries large decorative sprig like green and brown embellishments around the shoulder area intersperesed with foliage
type sprigs in light green and blue. Both the lid and, lower section, and foot, carry yet more decoation. Spigot to front. Apart
from the visual this is a magnificent
pottery production - at least six pieces making up the entire piece, then with the added sprig like shapes. Astonishing it survived
the firing given the narrow lower portion. Illustrated on p268 Doulton Lambeth Wares and attributed age of c. 1895. One of the definite stars of the AB collection and perhaps
the most exemplary Doulton artware dispenser recorded? Exc/ A1. 9.5/10. NR. £3,000-4,000+
I COULD NOT FIND THE RIGHT
CAR STORY...
Teaching at Wath was an absolute joy. The real reason for going
into the profession from the outset was to enable me to be near to
my beloved Peak District for the rock climbing - had to be within 30 miles of Stanage Edge. The ability to have 12 weeks paid holidays a year was my well thought out plan (?) after leaving University.
Fairly quickly along came the Bottle bug discovery, so two passions to grab my enthusiasm.
The teaching was an unexpected revelation. Loved it to bits - great school, great kids - from the worst behaved and lowest level, to the added benefit of Sixth form groups, along with three pottery night classes at Wath College, Rotherham Art College... and another at the school itself. Certainly kept me very busy and active?
By 1979 we had three children - eldest Paul, Becks, and Simon youngest.
As the bottle hobby took hold the black Morris Traveller became a trusty steed travelling to every corner of the UK
for bottle digging and shows, climbing and family
holidays.
Teaching salary was not as good as it is today but
promotion to Head of Year and also then Head of Art
meant we were never really short.
My spare dug bottles funded ever expanding, and
diverse, collecting themes, but pennies were always
tight and the Traveller was finally traded for a green
Vauxhall Chevette which soon became accustomed
to its many and varied trips.
It lasted some years, despite the extent of mileage
and bad AB use - it was a work horse!
As it neared the end of its life the starter motor
packed in, so I had to park it on the hill by the school sports hall, to bump start it when going home - much to the amusement of the school children. One lunch time I jumped in to scoot home for something
and as I bumped it to start the engine the rear offside wing fell off
- very much to the amusement of children
playing. So the hunt for a new started in earnest.
car was
One day one of the office secrataries came up to my classroom and said I had an urgen telephone call. I never mixed my collecting with work but on answering the telephone it was Gordon Litherland. He was very quick to realise where I was and asked if I could talk openly “only say yes or no.”
He said he had just purchased at Sotheby’s, Chester, a large Doulton whisky dispenser that was very much me. He said if I didn’t buy it he would post it same day to Australia for David Westcott to sell. It was EXACTLY the amount I had saved up for a replacement car. Do you
want it he asked, the answer was... well, you can guess - YES! At lunch time I shot down into Wath and drew all by car money out and after work left as quickly as possible.
 Gordons car was outside the front - he’d driven over to conclude the deal straight away. As I walked in through the front door my wife looked through from the kitchen and mimed to go to her. As I walked through the living room Gordon was sat between my two large music speakers holding a cuppa, the large dispenser sat upon one. Gill said that looks expensive. No, I said, its not. Deal was done.
And do you know every car we went to see over the next few weeks, or was it months, was either the wrong colour or too
high mileage, as I desperately saved up the car money to replace what I had spent.
Many cars and decades later (all now squashed and melted down) I have nurtured with love that mega VOS dispenser.


























































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